On a bitterly cold New Year's Eve, a poor little girl tries to sell matches on the street to earn money for her family. With frozen feet and no one buying her matches, she huddles in a corner and lights the matches one by one to keep warm. In the glowing light of each match, she sees beautiful, comforting visions of warmth, food, and her loving grandmother. The story is a touching and sad tale about poverty, hope, and the power of imagination in a harsh world.